Guide for endless tracks



Sept. 28, 1943. E. am ALLEN EI'AL GUIDE FOR ENDLESS TRACKS Filed Nov. 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 R a H e w Lu n .NLM O W M Z 1 I 0M4" m MM a EH Y Y a a p 3, 1943. E. L. ALLEN ETAL GUIDE FOR ENDLESS TRACKS Filed NOV. 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 all WM INVENTORs:

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S p 1943- E. 1. ALLEN El AL 2,330,195 I GUIDE-FOR ENDLESS TRACKS Filed NOV. 24, 1941 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3' IN vial-runs: E0 wnv L. ALL-EN Hana/.0 B. Musrsn ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 28, 1943.

E. L. ALLEN ETAL GUIDE FOR ENDLESS TRACKS Filed Nov. 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l llllllllllllll I FIG. /6

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greatest strain in practical use.

Patented Sept. 28, 1943 TENT OFFICE-" I GUIDE FOR ENDLESS TRAtlKS I Edwin L. Allen and Harold B."Muster, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to Rudolph 'nitaer, Shaker Heights, Ohio I. Scho- Application November 24, 1941, Serial No. 420,182

11'Claims. (Cl. 30510 1 This invention relates to improvements in a guide especially adapted foruse with a flexible endless self-laying track of a type used for trac'-' tors. trucks, tanks and the like." I

This invention is an improvement of the guide disclosed and described in PatentfNo. 2,107,490"

granted February 8, 1938 to Robert Mayne. The

guide shown in thisprior patent was adapted for production "only by forging or casting, resulting in a number of objections and disadvantages. The production wasrelativel'yfslow and, costly. It was difii'cult toget the necessary hardness for resisting the abrasive actionfof sand and water encountered during the use of tracksof, thistype because the forging'orl. casting had to be kept soft enough for subsequent machining operations and if treated for hardness after machining distortion would occur. Accuracy of 'shap'eand cross section. andthe small clearances desired could not beheld Within desirable limits due to the inherent characteristics Of'cOlnmerciaI forg-' ing and casting processes. Consequently vital sections 'of the guides were sometimes smaller than desired, thus increasing the likelihood of breakage in service. The suriface of the forg- "Anotherobjectjofthe' present invention is to so form th'e'guidejmember as to provide additional wearingjsurfaces where coasting guide members overlap and. engage each other. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of laminations of metal .stampings reinforcing .each jother whileat the same time maintaining such dimensions of the 'guide members that they may be; used inter .charigeably with the forged guide members of the Mayne type.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will'appear from the accompanying d'escriptionand drawings and the essential featur esjthereof will beset forth in the claims.

In the drawings, I I I Fig. 1 ma fragmental elevational View of a vportion of, an endless track'equippecl with our ings or castings was relatively uneven and rough,

thus accelerating the cutting action of the abrasive'materials encountered in service and leading to greater Wear.

An object of the present invention is to over-.

come the above objectionable features: and disadvantages. Our improved guidemay be made of metal stampings so thatthe production is relatively rapid and inexpensive] Suitable hardness may be provided in the finished product because no machining necessary after fabrication. Accuracy of shape and cross section can be held Within the desired limits sothat no weak sections are. produced. The surface of'thelfinished product is relatively even and smooth thus diminishing the, abrasive action when the.prod uctis in'service. a Y. I

Another object of the present invention is, to provide novel meansfar strengthening certain portions of the guide which are subject to the Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a plurality of laminations formed of metal stampings and adapted to Withstand the stresses and strains, particularly at the central II portion of the guide.

I Another object of the present invention is to so form a stamping as to provide novel means for keying the guide I nember to aQflexible endless track.

16 6 of Fig. 5."

improv ed [guide members. a portion bein'gbroken 2.045

away to more clearly disclose the method of attachmentfij i Fig. 21 is a'fiagmental bottom plan view of a portion of the; flexible somewhat enlarged. I

Fig. 3 is an elevational viewof our improved endless track of Fig. 1,

guide member, the left half'of the View beingin central longitudinal section to more clearly show the construction. I

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 44 of Fig.5, thisbeing a central transverse sec- 7 tion' through the guide member of Figs! 3 and 5.

- Fig. 5 is a top planiview of the guide member fof ljigs l to l showing aportion of the endless trackbros'sbarto which the guide member is secured and po'rti ons of the guide member being broken away to more clearly show the construction.

Figl fiflisasectional view taken along the line 1 Figs. 9 to 13 show the outer plate member of fth'eg'ui'dej shown in Figs. l'to ,7, .9 being an elevation'al view with'the left-hand portion in central longitudinal section, Fig. 10 being a botto m planveiw Figs. llfandlZibein'g sectional Y views taken I along similarly numbered lines 01 Fig.9, and Fig. 13 being asectional'view taken I along the line. l 3l3 of Fig. lO but with the sec- .tion turned' upside down to place the top'ancl bottom of the sectionin 11 and 12. I I I I l4 to 18 .are views of the inner platememposition similar to Figs.

ber of the guide of Figs. 1 to 7, Fig. 14 being a top plan view, and Figs. 15 to 18 being sectional views taken along similarly numbered lines in Cir Such a track comprises parallel flexible endless bands 21': and connected together. bymetal crossbars 2i spaced at regular intervals and preferably embedded in the. rubber of'therendiless bands so as to form a firmlyunitedfiexible endless self-laying track. This track as shown in the above referred to patent. passes over suitable idlers and beneath load bearing wheels or rollers and is generally driven by a sprocket, the. teethof which engage. between the endless bands inthe. spaces between. the crossbars. 2 i.

The. present invention relates generally to improvements in the guide. members indicated generally at 22 whichare attachedtqthe crossbars in. the space between the bandsZITandZO. The purpose of these guidemembers isto maintain alinement. of. the flexible track against localized thrust. tending to. move. portions of" the track transversely to the. path. ofv track movement. Such lateral thrust occurs when. the vehicle is travelling on the side, of. a hill. or. when it.hits obstacles tendingto. thrusta portionof the track sidewards.

The. track. construction and! the. crossbars. are generally of the form shown in.the above mentioned Mayne patent. Each crossbar as best seen in Fig. 4. comprises. two portions 21a. and 211) which. are: held. together. by any suitable means buthere-show-n. as connectedby the stud Zlc which extends from the portion 21a through an. opening. 2101. in. the. portion 2.! b. and.'a11 held together by. the nut-.23 whichmayalso serve to clamp a guide member in position.. The two portions of. the .cross. bar clampingly engage the endless cables 2.4. which, as-.shown.in theMayne patent, formapart ofthe. endless. bandslfl and 20. The crossbar portion Zlb ispreferably provided with sprocketengaging abutments lie.

The guide member as. showninall. ofthe fi ures except Fig. .8 comprises. an.outer. plate. member. 25 and-aninner. plate member. 25. Each of theseplate members is generally of, H-form having ;the sides Zfia .turnednpsubstantially, at- "right angles tothe transverse portionis'ibll Thesides thus provide portions. generally. parallel. to. the

general path of movement of the endless track, these side portions being .morewidely, spaced at one end of the guide member and narrower at the :other. endso. that; in use, as-.best. seen in-Fig. V

2, the narrower portion; of. one member; overlaps and slidingly engages-withinthawiden portion of an. adjacent. guide. member.. Certain. of

the. guide members arealwaysrin, engagement withztheend sprockets and all oftheguide membars. .provide. endless interengaging means. which maintain longitudinal alinement'v of the straight portions of the. endless,track. The transverse portion 25b serves as a means of. attachment of theguide member to a crossbar of I the endless track as Willpresently appear.

It will be noted .that the.side portions 25a of the outer plate member are reinforced'by'ed-ge flanges 252:. These edge flanges have been given a specificiorm tov increase the wearing surface where their inner iacesslidingly engage the narrower portions of coacting guide members. Referring to Fig. 6, the peripheral edges of the side plate portions 25a. are first bent inwardly and then bent in a plane substantially parallel to the path of movement of the endless track to form the flattened flanges 250. This provides considerable peripheral area for engagement with the narrower portion of the overlapping adjacent guide member. a

The flanges 25d of the transverse portion 251) are bent downwardly substantially at right anglesto. the path of movement of the flexible track to provide means for keying the guide member to the track. The lower edges of the flanges-25d may be; if desired, and here are again turned: atv substantially right angles forming a Z section for. addedstifiness. Referring to Figs. 3 and 5 it will benoted that the crossbar Zlb is; provided with key members 27. The keys 25d engage these members 21 so as to firmly seatthe guide memberon the crossbar; Obviously the flanges 25d alsoserve to stren-gthenthe transverse portion 25b;

Weak points in the guide member'asthus far described occur at theco'rners where the-transverse portiorr joins the side portions; At these places 25c the metal ofthe plate has been bent and drawn out of the;plane of both the transverse portion and thesideportions' to provide curved flanged cornersto'resist rupture at these points. It will be' not ed in Fig. 10 that the metal at these corners at the righfi side or narrow end of the memberhas beenieased out in a wide curve to aid in the" necessary' drawing of the metal. Refern'n-g to Figs. 10. and'12 it will also be notedthat thedeformation-of themetal at l the corners 25a is terminated along, straight. lines which are continuations of the keying surfaces of the flanges. 256'. The efifect of'lthis particular cons'tructionistojgive'a keying efiect across substantially the entire w'ldth of the bottom of the guide-member.

The innerplate member 26 asbest seen in Figs. 5 and 14to'18'isalso generally of H-form having side portions 23a. bent up from a transverse portion 261) in planes generally parallerto the path of movementof the flexible track; The transverse portion 2617' has its edges slightly bent downwardly. at ZSdto strengthen the transv rse portion and so that the same. will nest'snugly on top of the transverse portion 25b. as best seen in Fig, 3; The side plate portions at the'narrow end of the guide member have portions 26c deformed inwardly to provide guidesurfaces for insuring proper. engagement ofa sprocket tooth'with the abutment Zie on the crossbar Zlbl As best seen in Figs. 3,4; 5, 14;and.15 ;.at.26e the metal of the side portions 26a is deformed'linwardly in a rib extending at substantially ,45" between the portions 25a and 26b thusproviding a strengthening deformation at the corners'where'theside portions join the transverse. portion; .{At'the'nar rower end of; the inner plate memberthe end edges at 26] are flared outwardly again 'for providing proper engagement between a sprocket wheel tooth and a; guidememberentering into engagement therewith. For the.purpose of'providing a minimum thicknessof-the'guide member at thenarrower end thereof it"willbe'noted-that the flange 250 on the outer plate'has beenomitted at the narrower end so that the side plate'pcrtions 26a may lie against and parallel to the side plateportions 25a-right up to' the point where the' flare 26 *starts' This'constructiorr'is clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 5.

In assemblingqthe inner and outer plate members Zt'and 25in the f form thu s' far described it will be apparent that they cannot benested together in theiriinal fo'rm: One way-of assembling these parts therefore is' to-le'ave'the side plate portions 25d, as viewed forihstance infFig.

"4; flared outwardly from" the position; there shown tion's Mas-indicated: Thenrrthe side ;plate'por-.

and in-a position where the inner plate member "2t can-be placedwith tlie transverse portion 2% resting tightly against: transverse portion 25b. Thereafter the 'sideportio'ns :ZEairiay be 4 thus holdingthe partjs 'assembled-J- 7 It will be noted that in the assembled position bent a die to the final" position as showndn Fig.

,the innerand outerf-platemembers have their portions of the two plate members" may o-r'may' not be welded together as'desired. [An-easy manner of securing this welding engagement is the provisionof smallprojections 28 on one of the plate members. Then when the plate members are assembledthey are heldunder'pressure in a jig with current applied which melts the projections 28 and; welds them to the conta'ctingpor- 'tion of s the adjacent plate -member.

It will be noted that the abovedescribedform of the device provides two similar' plate members both generally of H-form and providing two transverseportions 25b and 25b whichare' solid across thecentral portion "of the member and provided with suitable openin gs through which the stud 21c may pass sojthat'when the nut 273 is drawndown, prefer ably on'a lock Washer '29, the guide mernber'i's firmly secured on the crossbar 2i and an'e'xtremely strong construction is provided at the central portion joff the'i uide member where'the greatest strainsoccur in use.

Another Wayof forming our improved guide 'member is illustratedinFigs. 8 and l' lQ 'In this form the outer member 25 is exactly thesame-as previously described but "the inner member 'is madein two parts be'st under'stood "by reference to Fig. 14. If'for instance the metal between the dot-dash lines A'is removed there will be provided'two identical halves adapted to be placed in "the position shown 'atzfiq offigt. I-tfis necessary to provide the space-between the two halves" of;the inner' mer'nber as indicated atdll soas to permit the insertion of the two halves in positiohwiththe welding projectionsiii en-' gaging the side plate portions 25a of the outer plate member. At this time of course there will be little or no gap at the point 30 but there will be a. space between the side plate portions 26a and 25a. 'lhen when the pressure and electric current are applied the side plate portions are welded together in the final position of Fig. 8 thus leaving the gap at the point 30. This form is secured to the crossbar by bolting on the stud 2 to as described in connection with the first mod-- ification. In this case, however, the nut 23 provides the means for holding the two discontinuous parts of the transverse portion 26b in proper position on the stud. Otherwise this second modification has all of the features of the first described form. v

Another manner of assembling our device where both transverse portions 251) and 26?) are solid through the center is to form both outer and inner members 25 and 26 in their final form as shown in Fig. 4 and with the welding projectio'ns- 2-52; are" s'prungf outwardly sufliciently to place the "memberZZS in proper position. The elastic limits of the. metal permit: this. without permanent'distortion of themember .-The projections will keep the sides 25d flared outwardly-until pressureand electric current are applied to fuse the projections 28; .Then the parts will return substantially to: the position shoWninFigAw h 1 {"Whatwe claim is: l v 1.}A guide member for. assemblyfon a crossbar of a flexible endless track movable in a path, said member being arranged for conjoint use with-'- other coactingguide members of like nature, slai'd memb'er having a sheet metal plate adapted to overlapandf slidinglyengage'a portion of a coactingmember generally. in, afplane parallel to said path, and'said plate being-cupped to provide,

a recess generally, parallelto'. said plane and the peripher'aledgesof said c ip being then bent sub stantially'parallelftosaid plane, whereby to reinforce: said late and to provide a' larg e wearing area for saidsliding engagement. PT

2, A guide member for assembly on a" crossbar of a flexible endless track movable in a pa th;sa id memberbeing' arrangedior conjoint use with 'other 'coacting guide members of like nature, 1 said member having] two generally parallelsheet I metal plates, each plate" beingxgenerally' of H- form-with thesides bentup to provide generally tions," "a

parallelportionsin planes substantially parallel tdtheplane of said path, each-plate having an integral transverse; portion connecting saidparallel portions, andproviding means for securing said member to a track crossb'ar,-at least one or said plates" having edge f 'Dortions [bent and drawn out of the g neral lane of s'aidside portions and of said transversep'ortion at the places where said transverse portion pins said side porind means' 'se'curing saidplates' together so that one reinforces-the other;

3. A guide member-for assembly on a crossbar or a flexibleendl'ess track movable in a path',"said member being Y arranged for conjoint use with other coactin'g guide members of like nature, said member comprising a metal plate generally ofH- form with the sidesbenthpto provide generally parallel portion's in planes substantially parallel to-the plan'eof said path, s'aidplate having'an general plane of said side portions and of said transverse portion at the corners where said transverseportion joints said side portions.

4. A guide member for assembly on a crossbar of a flexible endless track movable in a path, said member being arranged for conjoint use. with other coacting guide members of like nature, said member comprising a metal plate generally of H- form'with the sides bent upto provide generally parallel portions in planes substantially parallel to the plane of said path, said plate having an integral transverse portion connecting said parallel portions and providing means for securing.

said member to atrack crossbar, and said plate having projections bent downwardly from said transverse portion and substantially at right angles to the planes of. said parallel portions to provide key means for positioning said member on a crossbar. 7

5. A guide member for assembly on a crossbar of a flexible endless track movable in a path, said member being arranged for conjoint use with other coacting guide members of like nature, said member comprising a metal platehaving a side portion substantially parallel to the plane of said path, said side portion being adapted to overlap and enact with the side portion of an adjacent guide member, said plate having an integral por tion extending transversely to said side portion and providing means for securing said plate to a track crossbar, and the edges of said transverse portion substantially at right angles to the plane of said side portion being bent downwardly to provide key means for positioning said plate on a crossbar. V a i -6. A guide member for assembly on a crossbar ofa flexible endless track movable in a path, said member being arranged for conjoint use with other coacting guide members of like nature, said member comprising a metal plate having a side portion substantially parallel to the plane of said path, said side portion being adapted to overlap and coact with the :side portion of an adjacent guide member, said plate having an integral portion extendin transversely to said side portion and providing means for securing said plate to a trackcrossbar, said transversely extending portion having side edges substantially at right angles to the plane of said side portion bent downwardly to provide, rectilinear key flanges, and said plate having corner edge portions at the places where said transverse portion ,joins said side portion, each of said corner edge portions bein'gdef ormed out of the general plane of said side portion and of said transverse portion, said deiormation ending on a linealined with the adjacentkey flange. I

7. A guide member for assembly ona crossbar of ,aflexible endless trackmovablein a. path, saidmember being arrangedfor conjoint use with other coacting. guide ,members of like nature, said member comprising a metal plate generally of H-form with the sides bent up substantially at right angles to the plan ofthe transverse portion to provide generally parallel portions in planes substantially parallel to the plane of saidpath, said parallel-portions being more widely spaced at-one end than at the other, said parallel portions havingedges deformed inwardly, such deformations being omitted at the end edges at the narrower end of said member, and inner plate members substantially parallel to and secured to said side parallel portions of said first named plate, said inner plate members lying within said deformed edges and extending at least to said'end edges having no deformation. I 8. A guide member for assembly on a crossbar of a flexible endless track movable in a path, said member being arranged for conjoint use with other coacting guide members of like nature, said :member comprising a metal plate generally of H-form with the sides bent up substantially at right angles to the plane of the transverse portion to provide generally parallel pertions in planes substantially parallel to the plane of said path, and two inner plate members each having a side portion substantially parallel to and secured to the sides of said first named plate,.each of said inner plate members having an integral transverse portion parallel to and engaging the transverse portion of said first named plate.- a

9. In the combinationfof a flexible endless selflaying track movable in a path and having crossbars spaced along said track transversely to said path of movement, a plurality of guide members, one for each of. said crossbars, each guide member having two generally parallel sheet metal plates, each-plate being generally of H- form with the sides bent up to provide generally parallel lug portions in planes substantially parallel to the plane of said path, the lug portions of each guide member being in interfitting and relatively movable relationship with those of adjoining guide members but free of direct connection thereto, each plate having an integral transverse portion connecting said parallel side lug portions and providing means for securing said member to a track crossbar, and means securing said two plates of each guide member together so that one reinforces the other.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein, said last named means secures together said generally parallel side lug portions only of the two plates of each guide member i 11. ;A guide member for assembly on a crossbar of a flexible endless track movable in a path, Saidmember being arranged for conjoint use with other coacting guide members of like nature, said member having a sheet metal plate adapted to overlap and slidingly engage a portion of a coacting member generally in a plane parallel to said path, and said plate having *a peripheral edge bent at an' angle to said plane and then bent substantially parallel to said plane, whereby to reinforce said plate and to provide a large wearing area for said sliding engagement.

- EDWIN L. ALLEN.

HAROLD B. MUSTER. 

